No. 6 Seattle Pacific wins Raptor Cup

Falcons lead entire varsity-eight race, win by 37-second margin

SEATTLE -- Seattle Pacific rowers won two of three races on Saturday morning led by a wire-to-wire victory from the varsity eight crew during the Raptor Cup.

The Falcons claimed the overall team title by a 9-6 margin.

SPU's top boat burst off the starting line and never trailed en route to a 37-second triumph. The Falcons clocked a time of 7:55.17 despite unfavorable conditions that forced them to row into a strong head wind and steady rain. Seattle U's time was 8:32.6.

"The women's varsity eight, just from a pure rowing perspective, was really good today," SPU coach Keith Jefferson said. "They were instantly ahead. They rowed quite well, held themselves together and steered a good course."

The Falcons also won the race for women's second varsity fours, completing the 2,000-meter course in 9:39.39. The second-place time by SU was 10:16.18.

The Redhawks won the closest race of the day with a six-seat decision in the varsity four competition. The winning time was 9:06.1 and SPU was second in 9:09.68.

"Our women's varsity four, while they finished behind, fought a good race. They were dead even, got a little behind and then were coming back," Jefferson said. "It was a very close race and I was particularly proud of them."